Border wire construction



June 10, 1941. c. s. REED BORDER WIRE CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 12, 1938grwma bo q BLAIR S. REE]:

Patented June 10, 1941 BORDER WIRE CONSTRUCTION Clair S. Reed, Jackson,Mlcln, assignor to Reynolds Spring Company, Jackson, Mich, a corporationof Delaware Application December 12, 1938, Serial No. 245,205

Claims.

thereon, there is a, tendency for the top surface of the cushioningmeans to draw the front portion of the top border inwardly. However,since the border is substantially rigid, as it must be, to properlymaintain the contour of the structure, there is a tendency not only topull the structure out of shape but also to restrict the downwarddeflection of the top surface of the structure, with the result that theeifective softness thereof is reduced. The present invention overcomesthe aforementioned diiliculties of the prior art by moving the frontedge of the top border frame downwardly and placing at the front edge ofthe top surface a resilient supplementary border member, which maydeflect inwardly upon a load being placed on the top of the seatconstruction inwardly from the borders thereof.

Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide a spring cushionstructure arranged to permit the top front edge thereof ,to deflectinwardly when a load is placed on a central portion of the top thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a spring cushion structurehaving the top border frame deflected downwardly in front and providingat the top front edge thereof a supplementary resilient border memberdeflectabie inwardly.

A further object of the invention is to provide a border member for thetop front of spring cushion structures comprising a spring wire mem--her having a plurality of loops spaced longitudinally thereof.

These and other objects will be apparent from the followingspecification when taken with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1is a perspective view of the invention,

Fig. 2 is a partial plan view of the top of the structu e disclosed inFig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the top front border member showing its normalposition before being connected to the spring structure.

Referring particularly to the drawing, the reference character Iindicates a bottom frame consisting of a border wire and transversemembers. Supported on the bottom frame 1 is a plurality of springs 2preferably of the Marshall type. that is, covered with a fabric jacket.The springs inside the jackets may be of the barrel type. the hour glasstype, or any 'type that is desired. At the top of the structure is aborder frame 3 having a rear portion 4, side portions 5 and a frontportion 6. As shown in the drawing, the rear portion 4 and the sideportions 5 border the top surface of the structure, while the frontportion 6 is disposed downwardly from the top surface of the structure.The front portion 6 is reinforced by struts 1 against inward deflectionin a conventional manner. Bordering the front of the top surface is aresilient border member 8 having spaced longitudinally thereof aplurality of loops 9 for increasing the resiliency. The member 8 isprovided at each end with a bent portion l0, which define the top frontcomers of the structure, and also provide an anchorage for the ends ofthe member 8. The bottom frame I, the border members 4 and 5, 6 and 8are connected to the adjacent springs 2 in a conventional manner byso-called "pigrings H. Also, all of the adjacent springs 2 are connectedtogether into a unitary structure by pig rings II in a manner common inthe art but all of which are not specifically shown in the drawing forthe sake of simplifying the same.

" a conventional manner.

As shown particularly in Fig. 3, the member 8, before it is connected tothe spring. cushion structure, is preformed to make its normal positionin the form of an outwardly projecting are so that when it is connectedto the springs 2 it is under stress, thereby providing a greaterresistance to inward deflection than would otherwise be obtained. Asshown in Figs. 1 and 2, the ends in of the member 8 are also connectedby pig rings l l to the side portions 5.

It is to be understood that the finished spring While the invention hasbeen described as applied to the form of spring cushion structurewherein the cushioning means is a plurality of helical springs disposedon end, it will be understood that the invention might be applied toother spring cushion structures wherein the cushioningmeans is differentfrom that specifically disclosed but does exert an inward pull on thetop front border member of the structure.

Also, while it has been found that the type of border member I disclosedis particularly desirable and effective, it will be understood thatother forms of resilient members may also be used if desired. Also,other forms of arrangement and connection between speciflc elements ofthe spring structure may be employed without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention.

Ha thus described my invention, what I desire secure by Letters Patentand claim is:

1. In a spring cushion structure, a bottom frame, a plurality of helicalsprings supported on said bottom frame, a top border frame having front,rear and side portions. said front portion being below the level of saidside portions, said side and rear portions bordering the top surface ofsaid structure, and a resilient front top border member bordering thefront of the top surface of said structure, said helical springs beingconnected at the top thereof to the side and rear der member'borderingthe front of the top surface of said unit, said cushioning means beingconnected to said border member and to the side and rear portions ofsaid top border frame, whereby upon downward deflection of the topsurface of said cushioning means intermediate the border portionsthereof said front top border member is deflected rearwardly.

3. In a spring cushion structure, a bottom frame, a spring unitcomprising a plurality of interconnected helical springs supported onsaid bottom frame, and a top border frame having front, rear and sideportions, said rearand side portions bordering the upper surface of saidsprings, the front portion being disposed below the level of the topsurface of said structure, means connecting the border springs of saidinterconnected helical springs to said top border frame, and a resilientborder member bordering the front of the top surface of said structure,the front helical springs being connected to said member. whereby uponthe downward deflection of the top surface of said structureintermediate the border portions thereof said border member is deflectedinwardly.

4. In a spring cushion structure, a bottom frame, cushioning meanscomprising a coil spring unit supported on said bottom frame, a topborder frame having front, rear and side portions, said side and rearportions bordering the top surface of said unit, said front portionbeing below the level of said top surface, and a resilient border memberbordering the front top surface of said unit, said member having aplurality of loops along the length thereof to increase its resiliency,said cushioning means being connected to said border member and to theside and rear portions of said top border frame, whereby upon downwarddeflection of said top surface of said cushioning means intermediate theborder portions thereof said front top border member is deflectedrearwardly.

5. In a spring cushion structure, a bottom frame, a plurality of helicalsprings supported on said bottom frame, a top border frame having front,rear and side portions, said side and rear portions bordering the topsurface of said structure, said front portion being below the level ofsaid top-surface, and a resilient front top border member bordering thefront of the top surface of said structure, said member having aplurality of loops along the length thereof to increase the resiliencythereof, and means connecting said front member to said side portions,said helical springs being connected at the top thereof to the side andrear border frame portions and to said front top border member and toadjacent helical springs, whereby upon downward deflection of the topsurface of said structure intermediate the border portions thereof saidfront top border member is deflected inwardly.

CLAIR S. REED.

